Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Dec 31, 2016

Cybersecurity is an ever-changing field. A threat that was huge ten years ago might not even be on the radar today. While it's impossible to predict the future, there are certain trends that will most likely continue into 2017. Let's take a look at some predictions for the new year. 

1. IoT-based DDoS attacks

One major threat that is looming on the horizon for 2017 is the use of distributed denial-of-service attacks. While these kinds of hacks have been around for quite some time now, the reason there will likely be a surge in 2017 has to do with the introduction of the Internet of Things.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Dec 28, 2016

When planning out a budget for the new year, finding a place for cybersecurity can be difficult. You want to put that money toward new ventures, but you also know that a major breach can forever damage your reputation. 

To help those waffling between how much to put into digital defenses, let's review some of the biggest reasons having a plan is worth the time and money.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Dec 22, 2016

While credit and debit cards are extremely convenient, they've also opened up a whole new world of fraud. This makes the systems that retailers use to process these payments seem like great targets for hackers, and organizations from every corner of the globe are scrambling to secure themselves against these threats.

One big solution to this has been the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. The PCI DSS is a regulatory code that tells companies how they can better defend themselves against attacks levied to steal card data. It's an important tool in the fight against fraud and should be strictly followed.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Dec 20, 2016

As more services continue to move to an online environment, the importance of cybersecurity is being emphasized in every industry in the market. That said, certain sectors are feeling the pressure of this concern more than others, with perhaps the best example of this being retail organizations. 

The retail world has been repeatedly hit by cyberattacks in the past, and it doesn't look like hackers will be stopping anytime soon. It's imperative that company leaders in this field begin to prepare their businesses for the worst, so let's take a look at some reasons why retailers should beef up their current cybersecurity defenses.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Dec 1, 2016

Data breaches are major events that place tremendous pressure on IT departments to rectify. Unfortunately, numerous case studies exist where companies have not only failed to prevent a cyber attack, but they've also struggled (at minimum) to mitigate the damage. The end result is often lost customers and a dented bottom line.

Why are Data Breaches on the Rise?

One reason data breaches are increasing is because there are more connected devices than ever. And that number is expected to rise.

Gartner predicted connected "things" would jump 30% between 2015 and 2016. Other experts agreed, such as Fortinet Global Security strategist Derek Manky and Morgan Stanley Chief Information Officer of Technology and Information Risk Matthew Chung.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Nov 23, 2016

Has your company's network been compromised? If you're not sure, you should know how to tell because it could prevent the loss of critical data. 

While large and small companies may appear to be indestructible, they're always at the mercy of their IT security systems. When their networks are breached, cybercriminals can typically steal important data with ease such as a customer's personal and financial information. The end result is often damage to the company's bottom line because of lost customers. 

But what if a company could prevent (or at least slow) these cyber attacks by not only building a robust IT defense system but also by knowing when a hacker is attacking? In this article we'll discuss how companies can tell when a cybercriminal is already in their network. In turn, this will allow IT teams to quickly react and avoid losing crucial data.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Nov 18, 2016

Black Friday is right around the corner. Is your company ready for it?

We hope so, and we're comfortable assuming that all consumers nationwide hope so too. After all, their livelihood could depend on it.

Each holiday season, cybersecurity becomes a hot topic. People swipe their credit cards left and right to buy goods and services, and they worry about the payments later. While shopping can be fun, it's also risky.

Why is holiday shopping so dangerous? Blame PoS malware.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Nov 17, 2016

Each year companies lose millions of dollars because of data breaches. Not only do businesses lose money because cybercriminals steal critical data but also because these hackers cause often irreversible damage to the organization's reputation. In turn, these companies often struggle to retain and gain customers.

Many different types of IT criminals breach databases, which we'll discuss shortly, but it's critical to first understand what they're looking for and who they're attacking.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Nov 7, 2016

Do you know what the HIPAA Security Rule is? What about the Privacy Rule? If you're a health provider, it's paramount you understand what both of these regulations are, otherwise you could end up like a number of health companies - in a financial mess.

Take St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts, which broke HIPAA's Security Rule by violating regulations regarding electronic Protected Health Information, according to Elizabeth Snell of Health Security.

Posted by Shawn O'Brien on Oct 26, 2016

If you're thinking about transitioning your data from on-premise hardware to the cloud, you're not alone. Many companies are turning to the cloud to support their business operations. For example, in a survey of 930 IT professionals conducted by RightScale, 82% use a hybrid cloud strategy - a 10% increase from 2014.

Businesses aren't just using the cloud to increase workplace efficiency and flexibility, they're also using it to protect their most critical asset: data.